Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands

Scotland's biodiversity strategy, Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands, was published in 2004 and sets out how the government will conserve biodiversity for the health, enjoyment and wellbeing of the people of Scotland now and in the future. The strategy set out a vision for 2030 as well as objectives and desired outcomes leading us there. These are still valid. However, the way in which the Strategy will be taken forward has changed from that set out almost ten years ago.

Scottish Biodiversity Strategy

With the publication of the 2020 Challenge document the Scottish Government designates the two strategy documents '2020 Challenge for Scotland's Biodiversity' and 'Scotland's Biodiversity: It's in Your Hands' together as comprising the Scottish Biodiversity Strategy.

The Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004 requires the government to report on progress with the strategy every three years. The latest progress report was published on 20 July 2017. It records the substantial progress which has been made to fulfil our ambitions for Scotland’s biodiversity and also highlights the challenges which lie ahead if we are to meet the aims of the 2020 Challenge for Scotland’s Biodiversity.

Following publication of the 2020 Challenge a new governance structure for the Strategy has been put in place which will be reviewed within two years: